FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT LEONARD PITTS - PAGE 3

The news media must report on black families, according to a panel of journalists at a Hampton University forum. The news media should do a better job of covering black families, and the key way to do that is get more African-American representation in journalism, according to a noted panel of journalists who gathered at Hampton University on Friday. "We did not finish the job of telling the story of the black family," said Jack E. White, a former Time magazine columnist and editor.

Too much protection The public's right to know should come first Here's what the public knows: On April 24, while Williamsburg Voter Registrar David Andrews was meeting with the city Electoral Board to be told that he was being placed on administrative leave and would not have his contract renewed on June 30, city police secured the city's voting records. Then the locks on the office were changed. And again: Last month, Dennis Wool abruptly resigned as executive director of the Colonial Services Board, which provides mental health and mental retardation services for residents of Williamsburg, Poquoson and the counties of York and James City.

Darrell, Newport News: After delighting in the ungracious-in-defeat ramblings of Tamara Dietrich and Wil LaVeist, I cannot wait to read something from Susie Dorsey. When will she return? Editor: The column on the front of Outlook rotates, and it's Dorsey's turn this week. I hate to disappoint you, but she may not be writing about the presidential election. I agree with the other letters about the mean-spiritedness of Tamara Detrich's column yesterday. Let's see now. We got the editorial section of the paper backing Kerry and the left.

Warnings on warming • Even the mainline press is no longer ignoring "climategate" and all that phoniness about global warming. I just went online and see you have a big story on "climate change," the weather in Hampton Roads. Global warming is all phoniness and you don't seem to reporting it. Editor: We were reporting an important study that local officials are taking very seriously. It is based on consistent long-term data showing that sea levels are steadily rising in the Chesapeake Bay. Although these experts believe this is attributable to global warming, they also believe it is important to address the sea-level rise rather than further debate about what is causing it. America's Cup • The America's Cup has come and gone.

Shoe on other foot Reference Thomas I. Ellis' Aug. 24 letter, "Disloyal opposition." It is amusing to note the frequent letters criticizing the "disloyal opposition" to the current administration. Either these folks just recently began reading the newspaper or they suffer from memory problems. It has not been a year since the letters frequently attacked the past administration, often using the very same "hatred, lies, demonization, bullying and not-so-subtle threats" that these folks now rather sanctimoniously decry.

As a result of our ongoing assessment of how to best present news and commentary, we're making some changes on the Daily Press op-ed page, beginning today. We believe the page will continue to provide readers with a wide variety of opinions as well as analysis. What can you expect to see? First, on the right half of the page, Monday through Friday, you'll find "Advancing the Issue," which moves to this space from its position on Page A3. This feature offers greater depth than you might see in typical news stories and can provide readers insight into not only news events but also subjects that might not be expected to make headlines.